Force and motion
Force and Motion
Constructions that do not meet challenge
One way to attempt the design challenge would be simply to push the first strip with a second, as shown above. Figure a) shows the original strip X. In b), another strip Y is lined up with the bottom of X, and in c), used to push the bottom of X to the right. However, this method does not satisfy the goal of controlling X, as you can see in 2 d). When Y is pulled back to the left, X does not follow it.
In order for Y to control X, it needs to be attached to it somehow. A way to connect X and Y is to put a fastener through X, Y and the base, as shown above.
This second method is even worse than the first, because now X can’t move at all! Why not? As discovered in Lesson 2, putting two fasteners through a strip and the base makes the strip and the base into a structure. That is exactly what has now happened to strip X.